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United States Patent |
6,070,612
|
MacAusland
|
June 6, 2000
|
Spout controlled mixing valve mechanism
Abstract
An improved valve mechanism requiring no handle for the direction and
intermixing of two or more liquids. The device is extremely suitable for
use in sinks such as are commonly found in the kitchen or bathroom.
Control of water volume and temperature is accomplished by manipulating
the spout itself which acts both as the water outlet and the controller. A
swivel spray aerator fixture can be used to redirect the flow back toward
the center of the sink or any other location. The device is adapted to be
used with ball valve type faucets but others are suitable as well.
Inventors:
|
MacAusland; Samuel S. (58A Colburn Rd., Wellesley, MA 02181)
|
Appl. No.:
|
926538 |
Filed:
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September 10, 1997 |
Current U.S. Class: |
137/625.41; 137/616.7 |
Intern'l Class: |
F16K 011/076 |
Field of Search: |
137/625.41,616.3,616.7
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
3322152 | May., 1967 | Aechter | 137/625.
|
4083383 | Apr., 1978 | Antoniello | 137/616.
|
4727906 | Mar., 1988 | Holzer | 137/616.
|
5685339 | Nov., 1997 | Lee | 137/625.
|
Primary Examiner: Fox; John
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Garrison; Scott B.
Lambert & Garrison PLLC
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A spout controlled mixing valve mechanism comprising:
a spout having a discharge end and an inlet end;
a ball containing at least three internal passages therein and having a
tubular extension perpendicular to an outer surface of said ball, wherein
one of said internal passages extends through said tubular extension and
comprises an outlet port in communication with said inlet end of said
spout, wherein a remainder of said passages comprise inlet ports flush
with said outer surface of said ball, each of said inlet ports engagingly
and disengagingly communicate with a dedicated liquid supply;
a seat upon which said ball pivots and rotates having bores therethrough
for passage of liquid from said liquid supplies; and
a slotted swivel plate for receiving on its uppermost surface said seat
wherein the slots in said swivel plate align with the bores in said seat;
wherein manipulation of said spout is transferred to said ball via said
spout's connection to said tubular extension causing at least one of said
inlet ports to pivotally interact with that inlet port's liquid supply
throughout a range between fully open to fully closed; and
wherein said seat swivels upon said swivel plate over a range within which
said bores are not occluded by said slots.
2. A spout controlled mixing valve mechanism in accordance with claim 1
wherein there are two of said inlet ports, one engagingly and
disengagingly in communication with a cold water supply, the other
engagingly and disengagingly in communication with a hot water supply.
3. A spout controlled mixing valve mechanism in accordance with claim 2
wherein said ball is hollow and said internal passages encompass the
entire interior portion of said ball.
4. An improved sink faucet of the type having a single water outlet and a
single mechanism for the control of intermixing of hot and cold water and
the volume of the intermixed hot and cold water, wherein the improvement
comprises:
a ball having a tubular extension radially extending therefrom, wherein
said tubular extension forms a conduit from a juncture of said hot and
cold water inlets;
a pivotable and rotatable spout; said spout forms a user controllable
outlet for the intermixture of said hot and cold water, wherein said spout
moves in multiple directions and each position of said spout correlates to
a specific volume and temperature of water from said outlet of spout;
a swiveling spray aerator fixture at said outlet of spout for both
redirecting flow within a sink with which said device is associated and
providing an insulated location for a user to grasp said outlet of spout;
and
a swivel plate mounted to a bottommost portion of said device, wherein said
swivel plate has two arcuate slots which allow passage of hot and cold
water respectively therethrough, and swiveling of said faucet about said
swivel plate enables the entire device to move without impacting said
passage of two fluids therethrough.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of valves, faucets or liquid
dispensers. More particularly, it relates to an improved valve or faucet
which enables mixing or blending a plurality of separate streams of liquid
as well as regulate flow rate of the liquid stream from the device by the
simple up, down, and lateral movements of its liquid discharge spout. This
device eliminates the need to operate knobs or handles for the regulation
of flow rate or temperature while also being less expensive to
manufacture. In the drawings and in the following description the
invention is disclosed as embodied in a hot and cold water mixing faucet.
It will be understood, however, that this embodiment is by way of ease of
illustration rather than forming a limitation.
Commonly faucets possess knobs or handles to regulate flow and temperature
mix of the liquid delivered. One such handle or knob regulates cold water
flow and the other regulates hot water flow, proportionally adjusting the
two provides the desired temperature mix and flow from the spigot. Perhaps
as common are faucets operated by a single lever. Typically these regulate
flow rate by lifting the lever upwards, and regulate temperature mix by
turning the lever laterally in one direction or the other. In both types,
there is a requirement for some manner of valve or faucet which is
separate from the spout.
Applicant is aware of two prior art patents which bear more similarity to
his invention than the aforementioned types of faucets. However, applicant
still considers his invention to be a novel and non-obvious step from
these patents thereby placing Applicant's invention into condition for
patent protection. The first, Sanchez Aguilar U.S. Pat. No. 4,589,445
describes a spout-operated valve wherein vertical rotation of the spout
itself about a horizontal axis results in flow control of the valve. The
valve contains passageways in the rotating member and the non-rotating
member about which the rotating member rotates. Rotation of the rotating
member progresses from non-alignment (and therefore no flow) through full
alignment (full flow). The rotation of the one part to the other allows
partial alignment of the passageways allowing the user to adjust the flow
to the desired rate.
The other patent Siano U.S. Pat. No. 3,468,343 discloses a swinging spout
faucet or valve that controls the admix of hot and cold sources. The
volume is controlled by pivoting the spout about one end in a vertical
plane and the temperature mix is controlled by pivoting the spout about
the same end in a horizontal plane. Although Applicant's action of
pivoting the spout at first appears identical to Siano, applicant has
invented a more reliable, less expensive, and less complicated valve
mechanism than disclosed by Siano. Siano uses a complicated series of
nested cylinders, which when appropriately raised or lowered, cause the
desired flow to occur. In order to translate movement of the spout from a
vertical plane to a horizontal plane, a linkage is utilized. One end of
the linkage slidingly engages a cylindrical groove machined into one of
the cylinders. As the spout is pivoted in the vertical plane, the end of
the linkage engaged with the groove rides along the groove resulting in
raising or lowering the cylinder appropriately. This action is identical
to the action found in threaded rod, screws, or other linear-to-rotational
translations relying on the use of an inclined plane. A number of problems
are likely to occur with such a mechanism. One such problem is that the
mechanism is likely to bind. Binding would occur because the control
mechanism (the spout) contacts the temperature mixing mechanism at only a
single point. That point is where the slotted plate engages the groove.
Such a single point contact is typically insufficient to eliminate
binding. Another problem is that the slotted plate could easily slip from
the groove entirely. If this were to happen, a person could unwittingly
use the device and have no immediate outward indication that the device
was effectively broken. Admittedly, this would not be a serious problem
unless the temperature mixing mechanism were to have slipped from the
slotted plate during a 100% hot water condition and subsequently a child
or elderly person unknowingly used the device, at which time they could be
seriously scalded since there would be no indication that the device was
broken. However such a device having once slipped, would be more apt to
slip on a regular basis simply due to wear in the slotted plate or groove
thereby rendering the faucet unusable.
Other problems Applicant seeks to overcome which both Sanchez Aguilar and
Siano have in common, is that manipulation of the spout through any
plurality of positions causes by default a displacement of the liquid
stream from some origin. In the case of a sink, the displacement of the
water stream is toward a sidewall of the sank rather than approximately
aligned with the sink drain. Additionally, because each spout above is
typically made of a heat conducting material, i.e., metal, and serves as
the temperature control, any further manipulations of the spout require
the user to contact the now heated spout surface. Furthermore, these
devices do not protect the user from heat conducted through the metal
spout when the user manipulates the spout to affect flow or temperature.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
As such what is needed is a valve that regulates both volume and
temperature by use of the valve spout. Such a valve would be both safe to
use, economical to manufacture, and lack the complexity associated with
alternative prior art valves performing similar functions. The present
Applicant has developed such a valve. It is further believed that this
Applicant's valve provides both a new and non-obvious resolution to the
problems associated with prior art valve mechanisms and as such Applicant
believes his idea to be a patentable improvement over this other prior
art.
Applicant's device uses a spout to control both flow of liquid and mixing.
Flow is controlled by pivoting the spout about its attachment in a
vertical direction, whereas mixing is controlled by pivoting in a
horizontal direction. As mentioned above, the presently described
embodiment is extremely suitable for hot and cold water faucets, where one
liquid is hot water and the other, cold water. The applicant has utilized
a number of different mechanisms to overcome the limitations discussed
above. Applicant has conceived a completely new valve configuration which
incorporates the advantages of a ball valve and adapts the ball portion to
permit the spout itself to regulate flow and liquid admixing. However,
Applicant contends that his invention can be suitably adapted to three
current styles of faucet mechanisms. These current styles are the ball
valve, the ceramic disk, and the cartridge type mechanism. However,
Applicant considers the use of a ball valve to be readily adaptable into a
spout controlled valve assembly. Applicant has found that his embodiment
eliminates a great deal of the deficiencies discussed above regarding
Siano. Because there are fewer moving parts and no linkages, the
Applicant's invention is less likely to fail than would Siano.
Furthermore, should Applicant's device fail, the relative location of the
spout in relation to the sink fixture upon which it is mounted would
provide an instant visual indication as to what temperature and flow
condition in which the valve failed. Should liquid flow be reestablished,
the user would know what to expect based upon the spout's position. This
is because there are no internal linkages which could fail thereby placing
the spout in a position not reflecting the characteristic volume and
temperature of the liquid flow should it be reestablished.
The Applicant utilizes a swiveling spray aerator fixture at the water
discharge end of the spout. The swiveling spray aerator can be adjusted
irrespective of the spout position. This adjustability enables a user to
redirect the spray stream toward the center of the sink or toward whatever
position the user desires. Additionally, it serves as a convenient
location to grasp and thereby control the flow and temperature. By making
the swiveling spray aerator fixture of plastic or some other minimally
heat conducting material, the user avoids scalding his or her hand on the
spout itself.
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved device
which allows for both flow control and admixing of at least two separate
streams of liquid by manipulation of the liquid discharge spout.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved
mechanism to accomplish the above object, by utilizing a ball valve as the
controlling means.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a location which
is essentially thermally non-conductive thereby enabling a user to grasp
the spout which may be hot due to the passage of a hot liquid therethrough
without risking a burn.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a cost
effective, economically produced device which is both mechanically
reliable and eliminates the majority of problems associated with prior art
valves of similar purposes.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The novel features considered characteristic of the invention are set forth
in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its
construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects
and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following
description of the specific embodiments when read and understood in
connection with the accompanying drawing.
FIG. 1 shows a side perspective view of a preferred embodiment of spout
controlled mixing faucet with a swiveling spray aerator fixture, the
phantom view further illustrates that the spout can be moved in an arc
about its base;
FIG. 2 depicts a frontal elevation of the FIG. 1 spout, again the phantom
view illustrates that the spout can be moved in an arc about its base;
FIG. 3 depicts in a section view one preferred ball valve volume and
admixing mechanism enabling the FIG. 1 spout controlled mixing faucet to
properly function;
FIG. 4 is a cutaway of one type of ball for the FIG. 3 ball valve; and
FIG. 5 is a top elevation view of a swivel plate used in the FIG. 1
embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, one preferred embodiment of a spout
controlled faucet 10 is depicted. The spout controlled mixing faucet 10 is
suitably adapted to receive a swiveling spray aerator fixture 12 as
depicted, which may or may not be used. The combination of the two,
however, provide the ability to control both the admixing of at least two
liquids and the flow of the resulting combined liquid as well as to direct
said combined liquid to a target area. Another important advantage of the
use of such a swiveling spray aerator fixture is that it provides a
thermally non-conductive location for a user to grasp while manipulating
the device. It being specifically understood that such a mixing faucet
could be used to mix a large number of liquids, each of such liquids
potentially possessing vastly different characteristics. However, with
that being said, Applicant's device preferably serves as a faucet to mix
hot and cold water at a sink such as those customarily found in a kitchen,
bathroom, or utility room.
The spout controlled mixing faucet 10 includes a spout 14, preferably of
the swan neck type as depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2, however other types of
spouts are easily adapted to the present invention and are considered a
part of it as well. Spout 14 has a spout discharge end 16 which as stated
above is adapted to receive a swiveling spray aerator fixture 12. Looking
specifically at FIGS. 3 and 4, a rotating ball 18 having two liquid inlet
ports, depicted as ports 20 and 22 on FIG. 4; one for hot water, the other
for cold. Each of the liquid inlet ports are capable of communication with
their respective hot and cold water supplies. By aligning either or both
liquid inlet ports with their respective water supplies one can control
both the temperature of the admixed water and the volume of flow. This is
not new in the art and therefore further explanation is considered
unnecessary. Applicant's ball valve differs in that where normally a ball
valve contains a valve stem, Applicant's ball valve contains a hollow stem
24. Within the hollow stem 24 is a central passage 26. The internal
construction of rotating ball 18 is that the liquid inlet ports 20 and 22
converge within the rotating ball 18 and thence lead to the central
passage 26. Central passage 26 communicates with a spout inlet end 30.
Many ball forms exist in the art, but their commonality is that each
combines separate flowpaths into a single flowpath within the ball.
Therefore, any form of ball is considered appropriate so long as it is
modified to have a hollow stem 24.
As can be seen in FIG. 3, the rotating ball 18 is free to rotate within its
seat limited by its contact with other portions of the device as referred
to below. The ball 18 must be able to permit alignment of the liquid inlet
ports with their respective hot and cold water supplies in a no-flow
condition, a one hundred percent (100%) hot water condition, and a one
hundred percent (100%) cold water condition. Of course there exists a
multiplicity of flow volume and temperature conditions within these
boundaries which the apparatus must be capable of obtaining. This is
easily understood and is nothing new in the field of ball valves. Attached
to an exterior portion of the hollow stem 24 is a skirt 32. The skirt 32
serves to cover and therefore protect a chamber 34 from potential impact
by foreign material. The chamber 34 provides a space within which the
hollow stem 24 is allowed to move about.
In one preferred embodiment, the rotating ball 18 is held within the device
by a valve cap 36. Interposed between the valve cap 36 and the rotating
ball 18 is a gland 38 and a gland retainer ring 40. Gland 38 places a
continuous pressure on the ball 18 so as to ensure adequate seal between
the liquid inlet ports and the water supplies. Gland 38 further serves to
reduce the coefficient of friction which would otherwise be greater were
the valve cap 36 and the rotating ball 18 to come into direct contact. The
material selected and the type of construct for gland 38 is common in the
field of valve design. To maintain a constant downward directed pressure
on ball 18, gland retainer ring 40 is provided which can be intermittently
tightened as needed. Both gland retainer ring 40 and valve cap 36 must be
structured to enable adequate rotation of ball 18, therefore sufficient
space should be provided for hollow stem 24 to rotate within the
parameters specified above. To provide smooth action and even wear of the
entire assembly, at least one of the contacting surfaces of valve cap 36
or skirt 32 could be coated with a friction reducing coating 42. One
substance providing the desired features is Teflon. Other means could be
employed to ensure that the ball remains in proper contact with its water
supplies which do not incorporate all of the above items, the valve cap
36, the gland 38 and the gland retainer ring 40; however, the ball 18 must
be held into the device and the hollow stem 24 must be able to rotate
within chamber 34.
Use of the apparatus is similar to that found in single handle faucets
containing ball valves. The major exception being that no handle is
provided in the Applicant's invention, the spout 14 acting as the handle.
As such, a user would manipulate spout 14 multi-directionally; in a
forward and backward direction from said user's perspective to regulate
flow rate or volume of water. To regulate admixing of liquid, or
specifically temperature of water in a sink faucet, the user would
manipulate the spout 14 in a side-to-side manner. Of course as is typical
of most ball valves, the range of motion can move in a plurality of
combinations of forward-to backward and side-to side motions. One problem
Applicant noted with the use of such an apparatus was that the direction
of liquid discharge stream from the spout discharge end 16 was determined
by the relative placement of the spout discharge end 16 within the sink.
Applicant overcame this problem by the addition of swiveling spray aerator
fixture 12 which enables the user to redirect the liquid discharge stream
to a location other than where the spout discharge end 16 would otherwise
direct it. However, perhaps more importantly, this swiveling spray aerator
fixture 12 provides a convenient location for the user to grasp the spout
without fear of thermally conducting the heat from the metal spout to the
user's hand because the swiveling spray aerator fixture 12 should be made
of a material having properties of low thermal conductivity. Such a
material could be plastic.
To further increase the liquid spray coverage of the device, a swivel plate
25 as depicted in FIGS. 3 and 5 is needed upon which the assembly is
mounted. This swivel plate 25 enables the entire valve mechanism to swivel
over a range thereby enabling the user to further direct the flow of
liquid. The swivel plate 25 has two arcuate slots 27 which align with the
hot and cold water supplies at a portion just below the valve mechanism.
By configuring the slots as arcs, it can be seen that the valve mechanism
can be swiveled without cutting off the water supply.
Applicant has also envisioned manufacturing this device by adapting a
cartridge type valve and a ceramic disk type valve to redirect the liquid
discharge up into spout inlet end 30. Applicant also has contemplated an
embodiment of such a valve which combines the features of a ball valve, a
cartridge type valve, and a ceramic disk valve.
As such the method of making and using the device detailed above constitute
the inventor's preferred embodiment and alternate embodiments to the
invention. The inventor is aware that numerous configurations of the
device as a whole or some of its constituent parts are available which
would provide the desired results. While the invention has been described
and illustrated with reference to specific embodiments, it is understood
that these other embodiments may be resorted to without departing from the
invention. Therefore the form of the invention set out above should be
considered illustrative and not as limiting the scope of the following
claims.
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